Creating Generous Congregations

Creating Generous Congregations (CGC) is an interactive and practical workshop focused on inspiring and equipping Meetings toward generosity and faithful, financial stewardship. Participants will explore the unique mission/vision of the Meeting, current trends in giving, the spirituality of fundraising, and creative ways to invite Friends into a fuller partnership in the shared work and witness of the fellowship. As Quakers, we sometimes struggle to have conversations about giving and our use of wealth, especially as it relates to Meeting finances. The CGC workshop helps create space for authentic sharing, how we might consider new practices and offers resources to shift the culture of generosity moving forward.

“Creating Generous Congregations” was originally developed by Everence with assistance from Lake Institute. It is available to New York Yearly Meeting through our relationship with Friends United Meeting.

Lake Institute serves the public good by exploring the multiple connections between philanthropy and faith within the major religious traditions. Its mission is to foster greater understanding of the ways in which faith inspires and informs giving – bridging academic research and practical tools for the benefit of Churches/Meetings. It is a leader in faith-based training and teaching.

Everence helps individuals, organizations and churches integrate finances with faith through a national team of advisors and representatives. Everence offers banking, insurance and financial services.

Facilitator: Colin Saxton serves an Everence® Stewardship Consultant helping individuals, congregations and non-profits integrate faith and finance through stewardship services and financial resources. With a passion for thriving communities of faith, Colin also serves as an instructor for the Creating Generous Congregations. He acts as a liaison to the Friends/Quaker world and seeks to deepen connections, encourage generosity and facilitate a vision of holistic stewardship with other partners in the Pacific Northwest. Colin and his wife Janine live in Newberg, Oregon, and are the parents of four grown children. Prior to coming to Everence, Colin was a Quaker pastor, superintendent of Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends and General Secretary of Friends United Meeting, an international fellowship of Quakers.

Registration is $190 + $50 Monthly Meeting fee for the first participant from a meeting and $190 for each participant thereafter. We strongly recommend at least two Friends attend from each meeting.

Commuters & Campers: $150 for the first participant from a meeting, $100 for each thereafter.